Meanwhile, the Take That musical Never Forget and Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 premiered at the Opera House.

Manchester is also a hub for family shows and pantomimes are known for attracting some of the world's biggest stars with David Hasselhoff and Priscilla Presley both starring in recent productions.

So, let's get down to the nitty gritty and make this your one stop shop for all things Palace and Opera House.

From directions to the venues to where is best to eat before hand, feast your eyes. It's showtime!

Manchester Palace Theatre, Oxford Street

What does the Palace Theatre look like inside?

The interior of the Palace Theatre, Manchester (Image: Phil Tragen)

This magnificent venue has been open since 1891 and still retains some of its original featrures. It took a significant hit during the blitz in 1940. It underwent a huge refurbishment in the 80s and has continued to thrive since.

As you can see from these images, it is a still a regal-looking theatre, with traditional red and gold features.

The purple-toned ceiling has beautiful mural detail.

What is the capacity of the Manchester Palace Theatre?

This venue can hold up to 1953 people, depending on show/seating requirements.

What is the seating plan?

Here is a map of th theatre's seating plan, including the stalls, circle and grand tier.

Where is the Manchester Palace Theatre and how do I get there?

The theatre is located on Oxford Street, on the same junction as The Refuge and Principal Hotel and Sainsbury's supermarket.

It is served by excellent transport links, with the nearest tram stop in St Peter's square just a few hundred metres away.

There are also bus routes running to south Manchester down Oxford Road and Piccadilly train Station is a 10-minute walk away.

You can also drive and park in one of the recommended car parks.

Where can I park?

NCP Oxford St

NCP Whitworth St

£7 for 6 hours when your ticket is validated at the cloakroom at each theatre

Where can I eat and drink near the Palace Theatre?

Stage Door

(Image: Stage Door/Facebook)

You can't get better for a place to relax pre-show than actually inside the venue.

The bar serves cocktails and specialises in afternoon tea, which are often themed around the show that is playing.

Theatregoers can also pop to the bar in the interval, and it offers a delivery service, where drinks can be ordered before a performance then consumed at another bar inside the theatre.

There's frequently special offers and deals, so it's worth having a look on the website or Facebook page

Oxford Street

The Oxford Street Bistro

The first floor restaurant, based in the former Revue bar, boasts plush velvet seating, with splashes of lime green and violet against a muted grey backdrop and spectacular glass chandeliers.

The Bistro menu offers a range of casual dining options, including the venue’s signature Bistro Burger, pizzas, salads and risotto and pasta dishes. There are also sharing boards, a range of starters including baked camembert and desserts, with the offer of two courses for £12.95 or three courses for £16.95.

Oxford Street (inside the theatre)

Chilango

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Just yards from the theatre, this burrito bar is ideal for those who have finished work later and are in a mad dash to make curtain-up in time.

Fumo

The San Carlo sister restaurant located just off St Peter's Square is an Italian, with dishes served tapas-style. Great for groups and those keen to share their food, Fumo is housed inside a striking contemporary glass-fronted building.

The imposing bar area is too welcoming to resist, with a mouth-watering cocktail menu to pick out a pre-theatre beverage.

St Peter's Square

Don Giovannis

(Image: https://www.facebook.com/DonGiovanniMcr/?rf=126419457409085)

Did you know this Italian has its own dedicated prosecco bar? If your trip to the theatre is for a special occasion, you can't go wrong with a bite to eat and glass of fizz here.

It's family friendly and offers and pre-theatre deals - at £15.95 for two courses and £19.95 for three. Make sure you book in advance as it tables tend to fill up fast when a big show is in town.

Turtle Bay

Casual dining with a brilliant daily happy hour deal, perfectly timed for pre-production indulgence. The food is Caribbean-inspired, from jerk chicken and spicy rice to duck rolls and seafood platters. Its a funky place and great for those looking for somewhere less formal to start their night.

All cocktails are available on 2-4-1 during happy hour, every day, 7 days a week...

The Refuge

The Palace Hotel's new restaurant is an absolute belter. The first city centre venture from the owners of Didsbury bar and restaurant Volta, The Refuge is part of a £40m makeover at the hotel.

Oxford Street

The Refuge

This restaurant inside the Palace Hotel is THE most talked about in the city. It's housed within a stunning building, which has just undergone a multi-million pound refurb.

The vast 10,000 sq ft space includes a public bar with a 30ft-long granite bar serving 18 ales on tap; a 139-cover restaurant with an open kitchen, booths and a private dining room; a winter garden housed inside a glass atrium and serving afternoon tea and cocktails; a large den; and a gallery wall that runs the entire length of the grand room.

It boasts a 30ft-long granite bar serving 18 ales on tap; a 139-cover restaurant with an open kitchen, booths and a private dining room; a winter garden housed inside a glass atrium and the Den - a semi-hidden room with pool tables and fusball.

The food is norther Spanish-influenced. It's priced at the higher end of the scale, but that surely makes it the ideal place for a pre or post theatre meal in style?

Oxford Street

Gorilla

(Image: Andrew Stuart)

This venue is pretty multi-talented. Known for being one of the best small music venues in the city, it also boasts a popular cocktail and food menu.

Specialising in stacked hotdogs, burgers , grills, salads and a daily soup, the kitchen is also known for its brunch dishes, for those heading to a matinée performance.

It's just a sort walk from the theatre and is in a prime position for anyone heading to a show on public transport, with train, tram and bus stops nearby.

Whitworth Street West

Dog Bowl

(Image: Dog Bowl Facebook)

Make a full night of it and book a lane and booth for a pre or post-show bowl.

The menu is an all-American affair, with loaded burgers. smokey meats from the grill and sharing boards are perfect for groups.

If you're heading to a daytime performance, try the £5 lunch menu.

It's a funky little place but it does get busy, so make sure you pre-book your spot.

Whitworth Street West

Manchester Opera House, Quay Street

What does the Manchester Opera House look inside?

For those of you who have visited the theatre before, you'll see from these images that the venue looks far more vast while completely empty.

You can also see the intricate gold trimmings, green seating and huge stage curtain.

The interior of the Opera House Manchester (Image: Phil Tragen)

The theatre first opened on Boxing Day in 1912 and is a Grade II-listed building. It was renamed from the New Theatre to its current name in 1920.

Between 1979 and 1984 the theatre became a bingo hall.

What is the capacity of the Manchester Opera House Theatre?

This venue can hold up to 1875 people, depending on show/seating requirements. A little less then the Palace Theatre.

What is the seating plan?

Here is a map of th theatre's seating plan, including the stalls, circle and gallery.

Where is the Manchester Opera House?

The theatre is located on Quay Street, just on the edge of Spinningfields and close to the Peter Street and Deansgate areas of the city.

The nearest tram stop is also St Peter's Square, around a seven-minute walk away. The Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop is a little further away and around a 10-minute walk.

Those looking to travel across the city to Victoria or Piccadilly and also bus stations in Shudehill and Piccadilly gardens can also make use of the free Metroshuttle bus, which stops on Peter Street (Manchester Central) and Quay Street 9(same street as the theatre)

Where can I park near the Opera House?

NCP Spinningfields

£7 for 6 hours when your ticket is validated at the cloakroom at each theatre

Where can I eat and drink near the Opera House Theatre?

Iberica

A stunning Spanish tapas restaurant and wine bar, with high ceilings, extravagant gold and red decor and a magnificent feature mirror in the bar area.

Tapeo

Offering traditional Spanish dishes in an authentic setting, it is a cute little venue, perfect for couples looking for a romantic or intimate meal.

Deansgate

Australasia

This place is a good shout for anyone looking for somewhere special to celebrate a birthday

It's a basement Pan-Asian themed fine-dining restaurant that you'll discover when you go through a mysterious glass pyramid-style door at street level.

The menu is designed for sharing, with dishes organised for parties looking to enjoy every dish together, or just a couple. All is explained in the menu and waiters are highly trained - with high tech gadgets to make sure your order is accurate and is tailored to your needs. Come here for sashimi, oysters, sushi and a variety of Californian rolls.

Maybe tatt fan Biebs liked the place because the decor was inspired by tattoos and body art - there's a true oriental feel, too, thanks to the ornate black fret screens.

Tattu recently marked its first anniversary with the launch of a new menu, which includes a whopping 30 extra dishes. A whole fried sea bass, topped with a fiery, fragrant Szechuan pepper and Shaoxing wine sauce, and zesty tuna ceviche with lime, coriander and chipotle are among the highlights.

Spinningfields

B.eat Street

(Image: Vincent Cole 14 July 2016)

If there's a few of you that can't decide what culinary delights to munch on, then this little nugget in Deansgate Mews could be just the place for you.

Offering a range of street foods, cocktails and other drinks, there's bound to be something for everyone.

Albert's Schloss

A brilliant Bavarian bier halle underneath the Albert Hall, that really comes to life after dark, but is popular all day.

The food is traditional German fare, and it's delicious. There’s a great range of flammkuchen (sort of like a German pizza) made in Schloss' in-house bakery, which also churns out pretzels, cinnamon buns, sourdough loaves and waffles throughout the day.

It serves beer straight from the tank. No, really it does. The house tipple is Pilsner Urquell, brought in fresh and unpasteurised from the Czech Republic every week.

If you head to the venue at the weekend after a show, you may get an added lot of entertainment with the house oompah band making regular appearances until late.